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General discussion

"Survivor" Richard Hatch going to prison for 4+ years

by Evie May 16, 2006 4:12AM PDT

For Hatch, fame has been the real test of survival

It's no stretch, not even a small one, to suggest that fame sank Richard Hatch.

Reality TV's most celebrated snake, who will be sentenced today for failing to pay taxes on the $1 million prize he won on the first ''Survivor" series, might never have been targeted at all had he not been sure to generate a certain kind of attention.

''Your odds of being prosecuted criminally for tax evasion are so low as to be almost nonexistent," says Peter Henning, a former prosecutor and current professor at Michigan's Wayne State University Law School. The federal government is resource-strapped and tends to choose plaintiffs who will earn the most attention.

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I am surprised that such winnings

by MarciaB May 16, 2006 4:36AM PDT

are not immediately taxed as they are in casinos, etc.

Would make things easier and less open for fraud. Maybe they just hand them the check and have them sign something stating they will be responsible for everything else afterward. That is how it worked for the Microsoft sweepstakes that I won for the Las Vegas/Grand Canyon trip.

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(NT) (NT) That makes sence

by tomron May 16, 2006 4:41AM PDT

Back to Speakeasy forum